worl vision

 

Why is education important and how does it affect one’s future?

Oct 13, 2021

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes education as a legal right of every child. Yet education remains a privilege to many. UNESCO data shows that 258 million children and youth were out of school for the school year ending in 2018. Of that total, more than 129 million were girls and 58 million were of primary school age.

   Among those fortunate to have access to education, on the other hand, more than 617 million children and adolescents do not have minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics.

1. What is education?

Education is the process where an individual acquires or imparts basic knowledge to another. It is also where a person:

• develops skills essential to daily living,

• learns social norms,

• develops judgment and reasoning, and

• learns how to discern right from wrong.

The ultimate goal of education is to help an individual navigate life and contribute to society once they become older.

2. Why is education important?

There are plenty of reasons why education is important. Generally speaking, they all tie closely to a person’s goals in life and to their future well-being. Below are some of the other most common reasons education is so important:

• Education helps a person hone their communication skills by learning how to read, write, speak and listen.

• Education develops critical thinking. This is vital in teaching a person how to use logic when making decisions and interacting with people (e.g., boosting creativity, enhancing time management).

• Education helps an individual meet basic job qualifications and makes them more likely to secure better jobs.

• Education promotes gender equality and helps empower girls and women. A World Bank report found that an extra year of schooling for girls reduces teen pregnancy rates by six per cent and gives women more control over how many children they have.

• Education reduces child mortality. According to UNESCO, a child born to a mother who can read is 50 per cent more likely to survive past the age of five.

 

3. What are the different types of education?

Education is typically divided into three categories: formal education, informal education, and non-formal education.

Formal education

Formal education is the type that is typically conducted in a classroom setting in an academic institution. This is where students are taught basic skills such as reading and writing, as well as more advanced academic lessons.

Also known as ‘formal learning’, it usually begins in elementary school and culminates in post-secondary education. It is provided by qualified teachers or professors and follows a curriculum.

Informal education

Informal education, on the other hand, is the type that is done outside the premises of an academic institution. Often, this is when a person learns skills or acquires knowledge from home, when visiting libraries, or browsing educational websites through a device. Learning from the elders in one’s community can also be an important form of informal education.

Such education is often not planned or deliberate, nor does it follow a regimented timetable or a specific curriculum. It is spontaneous and may also be described as a natural form of education.

Non-formal education

Non-formal education has qualities similar to both formal and informal education. It follows a timetable and is systematically implemented but not necessarily conducted within a school system. It is flexible in terms of time and curriculum and normally does not have an age limit.

The most common examples of non-formal education include community-based courses, vocational training or short programs that are not facilitated by professional instructors.

4. What are the benefits of education?

If all students in low-income countries acquired basic reading skills before leaving school, entire societies could change dramatically. According to UNESCO, 171 million people could be lifted out of poverty. But education isn’t just about living above the poverty line. It’s about quality of life, choices at work, and many other benefits, as listed below.

• Developing problem-solving skills

• Self-reliance and empowerment

• Promoting equality among individuals

• Stability and financial security

• Economic growth (as a nation)

• Giving back to the community

Taken from: https://www.worldvision.ca/stories/education/why-is-education-important#:~:text=Education%20develops%20critical%20thinking.,likely%20to%20secure%20better%20jobs.( adapted text)